2 Great Weeks (Mom and Dad & Surfing!)

There is so much to catch up on! My mom and dad came to see Katie and I last week and we had the BEST time! They traveled around Australia and New Zealand, and then stopped back in Sydney for a few days before going home. We stayed with them in their hotel on Circular Quay (enjoying great breakfast and cappuccinos from the cappuccino machine!), went out to dinner at the Rocks, went on a coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee Beach, and climbed the Harbour Bridge. The Bridgeclimb was probably my favorite thing that we did together. We got all geared up with our climbing suits, harnesses, and strings holding our sunglasses, hats, etc., and then did a practice climb before going out to the Bridge. It was fun because our family got to be right in front of our group of 10 people. So we had a longer time to look out at the incredible views! It was so cool to see the Harbour from so high up. Sydney is really such a gorgeous city. And I was very excited that Mom and Dad both loved it too, even though they were a little afraid of the height and climbing down the ladders of the bridge J It was such a wonderful four days with them, and I know that their visit will get me through the last month and a half here. I feel like I’ve been here quite a long time, and although it has been INCREDIBLE, I am missing friends, home, and life back in the States. I am really just trying to live it up here as much as possible though, because I know it will come soon enough.

Now for this weekend…I learned how to surf! I went to Mojo Surf Camp with my friends and Katie and a few of her friends. We went to Crescent Head, about 6 hours from Sydney. The beach was beautiful and the weather was perfect. On Friday night we arrived, and Saturday morning we started surfing. The morning waves were perfect for learning, so I was able to get up a few times. We all felt very hardcore in our wet suits with our boards J I was a little surprised though at how hard it was to just swim out and get ready for the wave. It takes a lot of work! Standing up was one of the easier parts, and once you get up it is not too difficult to balance (depending on your coordination of course!). I finished off the weekend with a few bruises and a nice black eye. A wave knocked Danielle’s board out of her control and it whacked me right in the left side of my face. It reminded me of the time I got hit in the face with the shovel in Ecuador! Haha… The waves later in the afternoon were huge, so we were glad that we had some small ones in the morning. I didn’t realize how scary waves could be. So many times the waves would build so much, that by the time they got closer to the shore, they were7 or 8 feet tall. And if they didn’t break before you went over them, they consumed you. The waves were so powerful that they flipped me around upside down in the water. It was scary!

Overall it was an amazing weekend of surfing, relaxing on the beach, eating good food, and having bonfires at night. The instructors were really nice (finally some cute Aussies!) and helpful, so it was a really great time. After a couple of fun weeks with my parents and surfing, I will be back to the books this week, finishing up these last couple of weeks of class. I can’t believe I am almost finished with class! Crazy… Lots to do before then :/ Thanks for your continued prayers. I am really looking forward to seeing you all in 7 weeks! God Bless,

Xxx Megs